My eyes widened.
Arthur’s narrowed.
“Although, ironically, Susannah told me your first word was ‘Dada.’”
chapter forty four
where are you, shadow?
“Dad?”
The word tasted like copper. Old and bitter. Like putting a penny in your mouth and instantly realising it was never meant to be there.
Having a dad had been a chapter of my life I was too young to remember, one I rarely let myself think about because it felt insignificant. Unlike Rory, who spoke of her dad with fondness and full memories, mine only sparked short-lived curiosity on blue moons—curiosity I never had the energy or desire to explore.
He was a lost cause as far as I was concerned.
A transparent father figure.
Until now.
Arthur…my dad… looked back at me, his eyes rounding in a way that made it feel like he’d waited a lifetime to hear that word.
He smiled. “My girl.”
The audacity hit me like the breeze. “I stopped being your girl the day you left.”
His hand reached for me again, and I stumbled back. “You’re wrong. You were always my girl. Harriet… not so much.” He glanced away. “She was every bit Susannah—stubborn. No sense of humour, even as a child.” His eyes flicked back to me. “But you… well, you were my girl.”
My face twisted. “I was barely one when you left.”
“I still knew. And if what I read in the tabloids all these years said anything, it was that I was correct.” He smirked proudly. “Feistiness is a Holland thing.”
My head spun. If my hands weren’t bound, I would’ve tugged at my hair. Instead, I sobbed. “I don’t get it… Why didn’t you say anything when you came into Flo’s?”
He circled me, not like a father—more like a great white did before tearing you limb from limb. “Nerves, mostly. I didn’t want you to be afraid of me.”
I lowered my voice, disbelief washing over me. “Well, gold star for that fucking plan.”
“See!” He bellowed, loud enough to scare me, just a little. “Feisty. Just like your old man.”
I shook my head. “I think if this little kidnapping plan says anything, it’s that I am nothing like you!” I spat the words, angling my head as he walked behind me.
“I told you, you’ve got nothing to be scared of. We’re not here to hurt you. It’s actually a bit mad that you, of all people, got caught up in this.” He wandered until he faced me again. “But don’t worry; our guest of honour should be here prettysoon.”
My aching eyes burnt right through Oscar, noting every wicked crease in his smirk, before my attention tugged back to… my dad. “This is all for Marcus?” The name sweetened on my tongue, and the dots connected.
There was no way…
“Wait a minute… Are you the ones who have been fucking with his company? The missing files?” I glared harder at Oscar. “That was you?”
From the shadowy corner of the rooftop, Oscar stepped into view, moving from behind Dad. “The plan was always to use someone to steer him away from what was really happening. After what happened with Radcliffe, using you, knowing the parallels my brother would fall for, it felt like an opportunity we couldn’t resist.” He licked his lips in a sly smile, only making him seem more immature. “I was the one who convinced him to watch over you.”
“While you destroyed everything he’s worked for?”
He shrugged carelessly. “Destroyed. Took back what was mine. I don’t care what you call it, so long as the end result is the same.”
My eyes flicked to Arthur. “Where could you possibly fit into all this?”
